High speed low power magnetic devices based on current induced spin-momentum transfer

ABSTRACT

A high speed, low power method to control and switch the magnetization direction and/or helicity of a magnetic region in a magnetic device for memory cells using spin polarized electrical current. The magnetic device comprises a reference magnetic layer with a fixed magnetic helicity and/or magnetization direction and a free magnetic layer with a changeable magnetic helicity and/or magnetization direction. The fixed magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer are preferably separated by a non-magnetic layer. The fixed and free magnetic layers may have magnetization directions at a substantially non-zero angle relative to the layer normal. A current can be applied to the device to induce a torque that alters the magnetic state of the device so that it can act as a magnetic memory for writing information. The resistance, which depends on the magnetic state of the device, is measured to read out the information stored in the device.

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/041,104, filed Mar. 4, 2011, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/490,588, filed Jun. 24, 2009 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,911,832), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/932,745, filed Oct. 31, 2007 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,573,737), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/498,303, filed Aug. 1, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,307,876), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/250,791 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,170,778), filed Oct. 13, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/643,762 filed Aug. 19, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,980,469) each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

This invention was made with government support under Contract Number NSF-DMR-0706322 entitled “Spin Transfer in Magnetic Nanostructures” and NSF-PHY-0601179 entitled “Noise-Induced Escape in Multistable Systems” awarded by the National Science Foundation, and Contract Number ARO-W911NF-07-1-0643 entitled “Electronics: Ultra-Fast Magnetoelectronic Devices” awarded by the Army Research Office. The government has certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to magnetic devices used in memory and information processing applications, such as giant magnetoresistance (GMR) devices. More specifically, the present invention describes a high speed and low power method by which a spin polarized electrical current can be used to control and switch the direction of magnetization and/or helicity of a magnetic region in such a device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Magnetic devices that use a flow of spin-polarized electrons are of interest for magnetic memory and information processing applications. Such a device generally includes at least two ferromagnetic electrodes that are separated by a non-magnetic material, such as a metal or insulator. The thicknesses of the electrodes are typically in the range of 1 nm to 50 nm. If the non-magnetic material is a metal, then this type of device is known as a giant magnetoresistance or spin-valve device. The resistance of the device depends on the relative magnetization orientation of the magnetic electrodes, such as whether they are oriented parallel or anti-parallel (i.e., the magnetizations lie on parallel lines but point in opposite directions). One electrode typically has its magnetization pinned, i.e., it has a higher coercivity than the other electrode and requires larger magnetic fields or spin-polarized currents to change the orientation of its magnetization. The second layer is known as the free electrode and its magnetization direction can be changed relative to the former. Information can be stored in the orientation of this second layer. For example, “1” or “0” can be represented by anti-parallel alignment of the layers and “0” or “1” by parallel alignment. The device resistance will be different for these two states and thus the device resistance can be used to distinguish “1” from “0.” An important feature of such a device is that it is a non-volatile memory, since the device maintains the information even when the power is off, like a magnetic hard drive. The magnet electrodes can be sub-micron in lateral size and the magnetization direction can still be stable with respect to thermal fluctuations.

In conventional magnetic random access memory (MRAM) designs, magnetic fields are used to switch the magnetization direction of the free electrode. These magnetic fields are produced using current carrying wires near the magnetic electrodes. The wires must be small in cross-section because memory devices consist of dense arrays of MRAM cells. As the magnetic fields from the wires generate long-range magnetic fields (magnetic fields decay only as the inverse of the distance from the center of the wire) there will be cross-talk between elements of the arrays, and one device will experience the magnetic fields from the other devices. This cross-talk will limit the density of the memory and/or cause errors in memory operations. Further, the magnetic fields generated by such wires are limited to about 0.1 Tesla at the position of the electrodes, which leads to slow device operation. Importantly, conventional memory designs also use stochastic (random) processes or fluctuating fields to initiate the switching events, which is inherently slow and unreliable (see, for example, R. H. Koch et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 5419 (2000)).

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,864 and several other publications (e.g., J. Slonckewski, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 159, L1 (1996)), John Slonckewski described a mechanism by which a spin-polarized current can be used to directly change the magnetic orientation of a magnetic electrode. In the proposed mechanism, the spin angular momentum of the flowing electrons interacts directly with the background magnetization of a magnetic region. The moving electrons transfer a portion of their spin-angular momentum to the background magnetization and produce a torque on the magnetization in this region. This torque can alter the direction of magnetization of this region and switch its magnetization direction. Further, this interaction is local, since it only acts on regions through which the current flows. However, the proposed mechanism was purely theoretical.

Slonckewski's patent describes MRAM devices that use spin-momentum transfer for magnetic switching. However, the proposed devices are slow and rely on fluctuating magnetic fields and stochastic processes to initiate magnetization switching. Further, large current densities are needed to switch the devices. In describing the preferred embodiment of his “latch or logic gate,” Slonckewski states “ . . . the preferred axes of the 3 magnets F1, F2, and F3 are all “vertical” (i.e., in the same direction or orientation) as discussed above. Other orientations can serve as long as they are parallel to the same axis.” As we describe below, our device makes use of layer magnetizations that are not parallel to the same axis, to great advantage in speed, reliability, and power consumption.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,223 to Jonathan Sun also describes devices that use current-induced magnetic switching and demonstrates in experiment the operation of such devices. However, the devices proposed were unreliable, as there was little consistency with regard to device characteristics. Further, the estimated time scale for magnetic switching was 50 nsec for operation at large current densities.

Devices are needed that exhibit high speed and reliable operation under the action of a spin-polarized current. This includes devices that operate with lower power and have lower threshold currents for switching the magnetization orientation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the limitations associated with conventional designs of devices that use spin-momentum transfer, an object of the present invention is to provide a structure that is optimal for a magnetic memory or magnetic information processing device.

It is another object of the present invention to produce a magnetic device that has advantages in terms of speed of operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce a magnetic device that has advantages in terms of reliability.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce a magnetic device that requires lower power to operate.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce a magnetic device that has advantages in terms of the stability of the stored information.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce a magnetic device that has a large read-out signal.

These and additional objects of the invention are accomplished by a device that employs magnetic layers in which the layer magnetization directions do not lie along the same axis. For instance in one embodiment, two magnetic regions have magnetizations that are orthogonal.

The invention is a magnetic device comprised of ferromagnetic and non-magnetic layers through which current can flow. The magnetic device is comprised of a ferromagnetic layer with a fixed magnetization direction and another ferromagnetic layer separated from the first by a non-magnetic region that has a magnetization that is free to rotate in response to applied currents. A third ferromagnetic layer, again, separated from the others by a non-magnetic layer, has a fixed magnetization direction and can be employed to readout the magnetization direction of the free ferromagnetic layer. The magnetization directions of the ferromagnetic layers are not all along the same axis. In one of the preferred embodiments, the first fixed ferromagnetic layer's magnetization direction is perpendicular to the plane of the layer, while the free ferromagnetic layer's magnetization is in the plane of the layer. As described above, a current flow between the layers transfers spin-angular momentum from the fixed magnetization layer to the free magnetization layer and produces a torque on the magnetization of the free layer. The torque is proportional to the vector triple product of the magnetization direction of the fixed and free layer, with a factor of proportionality that depends on the current and the spin polarization of the current. A large torque is produced when the magnetization directions of the fixed and free layers are orthogonal.

This large torque acting on the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer causes the magnetization of the free magnetic layer to rotate out of the plane of the layer. Since the thickness of the free magnetic layer is less than the width and length dimensions, the rotation of the magnetization of the free magnetic layer out of the plane of the layer generates a large magnetic field, a ‘demagnetizing’ field, which is perpendicular to the plane of the layer.

This demagnetizing field forces the magnetization vector of the free magnetic layer to precess, i.e., for the magnetization direction to rotate around the direction of the demagnetization magnetic field. The demagnetizing field also determines the rate of precession. A large demagnetizing field results in a high precession rate, which is an optimal condition for fast magnetic switching. An advantage of this magnetic device is that random fluctuating forces or fields are not necessary to initiate or control the magnetic response of the layers.

A further aspect of the invention provides a magnetic device including a reference magnetic layer having a fixed magnetic helicity and/or a fixed magnetization direction, a free magnetic layer with at least one magnetization vector having a changeable magnetization helicity, and non-magnetic layer spatially separating said free magnetic layer and said reference magnetic layer. The magnetization helicity of the free magnetic layer can be changed using current induced spin-momentum transfer. In one preferred embodiment, the device has a substantially ring shaped structure, and the reference magnetic layer includes an easy axis substantially perpendicular to the reference layer and a fixed magnetization perpendicular to the plane of the reference layer. Alternatively, the reference layer includes an easy axis substantially perpendicular to the reference layer and a magnetic helicity substantially clockwise or counter-clockwise about the ring-shaped structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description and drawings of the illustrative embodiments of the invention wherein like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the views and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a magnetic device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2E are illustrations of the free magnetic layer showing the magnetization vector and the demagnetizing field of the electronic device of FIG. 1 during the application of pulses of current as illustrated in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3A is an illustration of a current waveform that may be applied to the magnetic device;

FIG. 3B is an illustration of an alternate current waveform that may be applied to the magnetic device;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a memory cell according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A-5E are illustrations of the free magnetic layer showing the magnetization vector and the demagnetizing field of the memory cell of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6A is an illustration of a current waveform that may be applied to the memory cell of FIG. 4 during a write operation;

FIG. 6B is an illustration of a resistance measured from the memory cell during a read-out operation before and after the current pulse shown in FIG. 6A is applied;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the free magnetic layer of a 4-state memory cell;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an example of a current waveform applied to the magnetic device;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the magnetization components of the free magnetic layer during and after the application of the current pulse shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a memory cell according to one embodiment of the present invention in which during writing operations no net current passes through the free magnetic layer;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of an annular magnetic device according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an annular memory cell according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an annular memory cell according to a further embodiment of the present invention in which separate read and write contacts are provided;

FIGS. 14A-D are illustrations of the response of the resistance of a magnetic device to current pulses of variable length, according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 15A-D are illustrations of magnetic devices having either pinned or free layer magnetizations oriented at substantially non-zero angles relative to the layer normal;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of a method of making a magnetic layer having a magnetization oriented at a substantially non-zero angle relative to the layer normal;

FIG. 17A is an illustration of the magnetization direction of an annular magnetic device having a constant saddle configuration;

FIGS. 17B-C are illustrations of the magnetization directions of annular magnetic devices having instanton saddle configurations;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of the energy barrier to magnetization reversal of an annular magnetic device as a function of ring radius for various ring thicknesses;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of the figure of merit of an annular magnetic device as a function of ring size in the constant and instanton saddle regimes; and

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a memory architecture constructed from annular magnetic devices according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Structure of a Basic Magnetic Device

To illustrate the basic concept, FIG. 1 shows a multilayered, pillar-shaped magnetic device comprising a pinned magnetic layer FM1 with a fixed magnetization direction and a free magnetic layer FM2 with a free magnetization direction. {right arrow over (m)}₁ Is the magnetization vector of the pinned magnetic layer FM1, and {right arrow over (m)}₂ is the magnetization vector of the free magnetic layer FM2. The pinned magnetic layer FM1 acts as a source of spin angular momentum.

The pinned magnetic layer FM1 and the free magnetic layer FM2 are separated by a first non-magnetic layer N1 that spatially separates the two layers FM1 and FM2 such that their mutual magnetic interaction is minimized. The pillar-shaped magnetic device is typically sized in nanometers, e.g., it may be less than approximately 200 nm laterally.

The free magnetic layer FM2 is essentially a magnetic thin film element imbedded in a pillar-shaped magnetic device with two additional layers—the pinned magnetic layer FM1 and the non-magnetic layer N1. The layer thicknesses are typically approximately 1 nm to 50 nm.

These pillar-shaped magnetic devices can be fabricated in a stacked sequence of layers by many different means, including sputtering, thermal and electron-beam evaporation through a sub-micron stencil mask. These magnetic devices can also be fabricated in a stack sequence using sputtering, thermal and electron-beam evaporation to form a multilayered film followed by a subtractive nanofabrication process that removes materials to leave the pillar-shaped magnetic device on a substrate surface, such as that of a silicon of other semiconducting or insulating wafer.

Materials for the ferromagnetic layers include (but are not limited to) Fe, Co, Ni, and alloys of these elements, such as Ni_(1-x)Fe_(x); alloys of these ferromagnetic metals with non-magnetic metals, such as Cu, Pd, Pt, NiMnSb, at compositions in which the materials are ferromagnetically ordered at room temperature; conducting materials; and conducting magnetic oxides such as CrO₂ and Fe₃O₄. For the nonmagnetic layers, materials include (but are not limited to) Cu, Cr, Au, Ag, and Al. The main requirement for the non-magnetic layer is the absence of scattering of the electron spin-direction on a short length scale, which is less than about the layer thickness.

An electric current source is connected to the pinned magnetic layer FM1 and the free magnetic layer FM2 so that an electric current I can traverse the pillar device.

Method of Magnetic Switching

An electric current I is applied to the pillar-shaped magnetic device so that the current I flows through the various layers of the device, from the pinned magnetic layer FM1 to the first non-magnetic layer N1 to the free magnetic layer FM2. The applied current I results in a transfer of angular momentum from the pinned magnetic layer FM1 to the free magnetic layer FM2. As stated above, a transfer of angular momentum from one magnetic region to another can produce a torque.

FIGS. 2A-2E show steps in the method of magnetic switching using the magnetic device shown in FIG. 1 and for convenience, FIGS. 2A-2E only show the free magnetic layer FM2 and the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2. FIG. 2A shows the initial state of the free magnetic layer FM2 before the current I is applied.

As shown in FIGS. 2B-2D, applying a current I, which can be of a form as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, results in the transfer of angular momentum from the pinned magnetic layer FM1 to the free magnetic layer FM2. This transfer of angular momentum from the pinned magnetic layer FM1 to the free magnetic layer FM2 produces a torque {right arrow over (τ)}_(S) on the magnetic moment of the free magnetic layer FM2.

The torque {right arrow over (τ)}_(S) per unit magnetization of the free layer is proportional to the vector triple product a_(I){circumflex over (m)}₂×({circumflex over (m)}₂×{circumflex over (m)}₁), where {circumflex over (m)}₂ is a unit vector in the direction of the magnetic moment of the free magnetic layer FM2 and {circumflex over (m)}₁ is a unit vector in the direction of the magnetic moment of the pinned magnetic layer FM1. The prefactor, a_(I), depends on the current I, the spin-polarization P of the current I, and the cosine of the angle between the free and pinned magnetic layers, cos(θ), such that a_(I)=Ig(P,cos(θ))/(eMV).  is the reduced Planck's constant, g is a function of the spin-polarization P and cos(θ), M is the magnetization density of the free layer, e is the charge of the electron, and V is the volume of the free layer (see, J. Slonczewski, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 159, L1 (1996)). Thus, a large torque {right arrow over (τ)}_(S) is produced when the magnetic moments of the pinned magnetic layer FM1 and the free magnetic layer FM2 are perpendicular.

This torque {right arrow over (τ)}_(S), which acts on the magnetic moment of the free magnetic layer FM2, causes the magnetization of the free magnetic layer FM2 to rotate out of the plane of the layer. Since the thickness of the free magnetic layer FM2 is less than the width and length dimensions of the free magnetic layer FM2, the rotation of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 out of the plane of the layer generates a large magnetic field, a ‘demagnetizing’ field, which is perpendicular to the plane of the layer.

This demagnetizing field forces the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}hd 2 of the free magnetic layer FM2 to precess, i.e., to move such that the magnetization direction rotates about the magnetic field axis. The demagnetizing field also determines the rate of precession. A large demagnetizing field results in an extremely high precession rate, which is an optimal condition for fast magnetic switching.

Thus, in an optimal configuration of the magnetic memory device for fast magnetic switching, the magnetic moment of the pinned magnetic layer FM1 is perpendicular to the plane of the free magnetic layer FM2, and the magnetic moment of the free magnetic layer FM2 is perpendicular to the axis of the pillar of thin layers and lies in the plane of the free magnetic layer FM2.

FIG. 2E shows the free magnetic layer FM2 after the magnetic switching process is completed. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2E, the magnetic switching process causes the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}hd 2 of the free magnetic layer FM2 to switch by reversing direction by rotating 180°.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show two different forms of current input that may be applied to the magnetic device. The current input shown in FIG. 3A is comprised of two current pulses of short duration, a first positive current pulse followed by a second negative current pulse. This form of current input results in writing a ‘1’ or a ‘0’. Alternatively, the first current pulse can be negative and the second current pulse can be positive, as long as the two current pulses are of opposite polarity. In both cases, the state of the magnetic bit will be changed from ‘1’ to ‘0’ or ‘0’ to ‘1’ (i.e., the final state will be the complement of the initial state of the bit). The current input shown in FIG. 3A is used in the method of magnetic switching described above and shown in FIGS. 2A-2E. Using a current input formed of two current pulses results in a faster magnetic switching process.

The first current pulse starts the precession of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2. After the completion of the first current pulse, the second current pulse is applied to stop the precession at a desired state.

The second current pulse is not essential to the operation of the device, but it enables higher speed switching. For example, the current input shown in FIG. 3B is comprised of a single positive current pulse. Alternatively, a single negative current pulse may also be applied to the magnetic device. Simulations show that many different types of current pulses switch FM2. Therefore device operation is certainly not limited to the current pulses shown in FIG. 3.

Structure of a Memory Cell

The magnetic device described above can be incorporated into a memory cell for inclusion into arrays of memory cells to make up a magnetic memory. According to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic device of the present invention, when implemented as a memory cell, is a multilayered, pillar-shaped device having a pinned magnetic layer FM1 with a fixed magnetization direction, a free magnetic layer FM2 with a free magnetization direction, and a read-out magnetic layer FM3 with a fixed magnetization direction. {right arrow over (m)}₁ is the magnetization vector of the pinned magnetic layer FM1, {right arrow over (m)}₂ is the magnetization vector of the free magnetic layer FM2, and {right arrow over (m)}₃ is the magnetization vector of the read-out magnetic layer FM3.

The pinned magnetic layer FM1 and the free magnetic layer FM2 are separated by a first non-magnetic layer N1 that spatially separates the two layers FM1 and FM2 such that their mutual magnetic interaction is minimized. The free magnetic layer FM2 and the read-out magnetic layer FM3 are separated by a second non-magnetic layer N2 that spatially separates the two layers FM2 and FM3 such that their mutual magnetic interaction is minimized. The pillar-shaped magnetic device is typically sized in nanometers, e.g., it may be less than approximately 200 nm.

An electric current source is connected to the pinned magnetic layer FM1 and the read-out magnetic layer FM3 so that an electric current I can traverse the pillar device. A voltmeter is connected to the pinned magnetic layer FM1 and the read-out magnetic layer FM3 so that the resistance of the magnetic device can be measured to thereby read the logical contents of the memory cell.

Method for Writing Information

The magnetic switching process is used when information is written into a memory cell. To store a logical bit of information in a memory cell, the magnetization direction of the magnetization vector inside the memory cell is set in one of two possible orientations to code the logical values of ‘0’ and ‘1’. This magnetic device, when implemented as a memory cell, uses the method of magnetic switching described previously in order to store bits of information. Current pulses are applied to change the logical value in the magnetic device. The magnetic memory device described above and shown in FIG. 4 stores one bit of information since the free magnetic layer FM2 has a single magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ with two stable magnetic states.

An electric current I is applied to the pillar-shaped magnetic memory device so that the current I flows through the various layers of the magnetic memory device, from the pinned magnetic layer FM1 to the read-out magnetic layer FM3. The applied current I results in a transfer of angular momentum from the pinned magnetic layer FM1 to the free magnetic layer FM2.

FIGS. 5A-5E show steps in the method of writing information using the magnetic memory device shown in FIG. 4 and for convenience, FIGS. 5A-5E only show the free magnetic layer FM2 and the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2. FIG. 5A shows the initial state of the free magnetic layer FM2 before the current I is applied.

As shown in FIGS. 5B-5D, applying a current I, which can be of a form as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, results in the transfer of angular momentum from the pinned magnetic layer FM1 to the free magnetic layer FM2. FIGS. 2A-2E and 5A-5E show the change in the orientation of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 as a result of applying the current to the magnetic device.

FIG. 6A shows a form of the current input that is applied to the magnetic memory device shown in FIG. 4. The current input of FIG. 6A includes two current pulses of short duration, a first positive current pulse followed by a second negative current pulse, which results in writing a ‘1’ or a ‘0’. Alternatively, the first current pulse can be negative and the second current pulse can be positive, as long as the two current pulses are of opposite polarity. In both cases, the state of the magnetic bit will be changed from ‘1’ to ‘0’ or ‘0’ to ‘1’ (i.e., the final state will be the complement of the initial state of the bit).

The first current pulse starts the precession of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2. After the completion of the first current pulse, the second current pulse is applied to stop the precession at a desired state. For this embodiment of the magnetic memory device of the present invention, the precession is stopped when 180° rotation of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 is achieved.

FIG. 6B shows an example of the corresponding resistance of the device as measured by the voltmeter connected to the magnetic memory device shown in FIG. 4 with a small current applied, i.e., a current intensity much less than that used in the current pulses. The resistance increases after the current pulses of FIG. 6A are applied to the device. At the initial state shown in FIG. 5A (before the first positive current pulse), the resistance is at a constant low value. At the final state shown in FIG. 5E, the resistance is at a constant high value.

Thus, the states shown in FIGS. 5A and 5E correspond to a logical value of “0” in the initial state and a logical value of “1” in the final state, respectively. The magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 in the final state shown in FIG. 5E is in the opposite direction than the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 in the initial state shown in FIG. 5A.

The current pulse that is used to switch the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 may have a minimum pulse duration that is required in order to switch the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ between stable states. However, there is generally no maximum pulse duration; i.e., a current pulse will switch the state of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ between stable states so long as it is applied for the minimum pulse duration, regardless of the extent to which the applied pulse duration exceeds the minimum. FIGS. 14A and 14B demonstrate this phenomenon for a pulse of positive polarity. FIG. 14A illustrates a current pulse that is applied for at least as long as the minimum pulse duration for switching, Δt_(min), and is then applied for a variable additional length of time represented by the dashed line. FIG. 14B plots the resistance of the device over time in response to the pulse of FIG. 14A. These figures demonstrate that, so long as the pulse is applied for at least Δt_(min), the device will switch from its initial, low-resistance stable state to its final, high-resistance stable state, regardless of the length of the additional, variable-length pulse period. FIGS. 14C and 14D demonstrate this phenomenon for a pulse of negative polarity, which switches the device resistance from a high-resistance state to a low-resistance state. A person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the absolute polarity of the pulse used to switch the device resistance from high to low or low to high is not important, so long as the pulses used to change the device resistance from high to low and low to high are of opposite polarity. Therefore, a pulse of “positive” absolute polarity could be used to switch the resistance from high to low, while a pulse of “negative” absolute polarity could be used to switch the resistance from low to high.

The necessary amplitude of the current pulses can be estimated by numerical modeling using the equations of micromagnetics, the Landau-Lifzshitz Gilbert equations including the spin-transfer torque discussed earlier (see, for example, B. Oezyilmaz et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 067203 (2003)). For a free layer comprised of Co with a magnetization density of M=1400 emu/cm³, a Gilbert damping parameter α of 0.01, a spin-polarization of the current P of 0.4, and an in-plane uniaxial anisotropy field of 1000 kOe. (In this case, the in-plane uniaxial anisotropy constant K is K=7×10⁵ erg/cm³.) For the purposes of this estimation, the Co free layer is 3 nm thick and has lateral dimensions of 60 nm by 60 nm. We find that a current pulse of amplitude of 5 mA is more than sufficient to switch the layer. The current necessary to switch the device is reduced by decreasing the size of the Co free layer; increasing the spin-polarization of the current, for example, by using a pinned layer with a higher degree of spin-polarization; and decreasing the in-plane anisotropy or decreasing the Gilbert damping. For this current amplitude, a 35 psec pulse is sufficient to switch the device.

With a device resistance of 5 Ohms, the energy dissipation is 5×10⁻¹⁵ J. This energy dissipation value can be compared to the energy needed to switch a magnetic device with a spin-polarized current when the pinned layer and the free layer magnetizations are initially aligned along the same axis. Recent experiments show that this requires a current of approximately 10 mA applied for approximately 10 ns in a device with a resistance of 5 Ohms (see, R. H. Koch et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 088302 (2004)). The energy dissipated is thus 5×10⁻¹² J. Thus, in comparison, the power requirement for our device is quite small. Further, because the pulse is on only very briefly, in spite of the large current densities, 1 A/μm², no electromigration is expected. Further, we have operated such devices at current densities 5 times greater than this value for extended periods (approximately 1 minute) with no device damage (see, B. Oezyilmaz et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 067203 (2003)).

Method for Reading Information

The read-out magnetic layer FM3 is required in the simplest implementation of the magnetic memory device. The read-out magnetic layer FM3 has a magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₃ with a fixed magnetization direction. The magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₃ of the read-out magnetic layer FM3 can be fixed in a number of ways. For example, the read-out magnetic layer FM3 can be formed thicker or of a higher anisotropic magnetic material or can be placed adjacent to an antiferromagnetic layer to use the phenomena of exchange biasing. In the phenomena of exchange biasing, the coupling between the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer and the large magnetic anisotropy of the antiferromagnetic layer results in a hardening of the ferromagnetic layer so that larger magnetic fields and currents are required to change its magnetization direction.

The resistance of the magnetic memory device is very sensitive to the relative orientation of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 and the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₃ of read-out magnetic layer FM3. The resistance of the magnetic memory device is highest when the magnetization vectors {right arrow over (m)}₂ and {right arrow over (m)}₃ of the free magnetic layer FM2 and the read-out layer FM3, respectively, are in anti-parallel alignment. The resistance of the magnetic device is lowest when the magnetization vectors {right arrow over (m)}₂ and {right arrow over (m)}₃ of the layers FM2 and FM3, respectively, are in parallel alignment. Thus, a simple resistance measurement can determine the orientation of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2.

The fixed orientation of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₃ of the read-out magnetic layer FM3 is set so that it is either in parallel or anti-parallel alignment with the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2, depending on the orientation of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2. Since the orientation of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 switches so that it can be rotated 180°, the magnetization vectors {right arrow over (m)}₂ and {right arrow over (m)}₃ of the free magnetic layer FM2 and the read-out layer FM3, respectively, must be in either anti-parallel or parallel alignment.

Storage of Multiple Bits of Information

The magnetic memory device described above and shown in FIG. 4 has two stable magnetic states and is able to store one bit of information. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic memory device can be constructed to store multiple bits of information. FIG. 7 shows an example of a free magnetic layer FM2 with four stable magnetic states. A magnetic memory device comprising a free magnetic layer FM2 with four stable magnetic states is able to store two bits of information. In this embodiment, current pulses are applied to switch the magnetization between directions that differ by 90° instead of 180°. This can be accomplished by current pulses of a different form. For example, the current pulses can be smaller in amplitude and/or shorter in duration. The readout layer (FM3) is then aligned such that each of the four magnetization states has a different resistance. This requires that the readout layer magnetization not have an in-plane component that points parallel to any of the four states nor at 45° to these states.

EXAMPLE

The operation of the magnetic device was simulated using Landau-Lifzshitz Gilbert equations including a spin-transfer torque.

FIG. 8 shows the amplitude of the current input applied to the magnetic memory device starting at an initial time t=0 and ending at t=30 picoseconds. This current input comprises two current pulses similar to the current input shown in FIGS. 3A and 6A.

A 16-picosecond positive current pulse is applied to the magnetic memory device to start the precession of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2. After this 16-picosecond current pulse, a 14-picosecond negative current pulse is applied to the magnetic memory device to stop the precession of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 to achieve a desired state of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂. For magnetic memory devices, the precession is stopped after achieving a 180° rotation of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2.

FIG. 9 shows the magnetization components m_(X) and m_(Y) of the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 in the x- and y-directions shown in FIGS. 2B and 5B. The magnetization components m_(X) and m_(Y) are measured during and after the application of the current input shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 shows that the magnetization vector {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 reverses 180° from the initial state, which corresponds to FIG. 5A, to the final state, which corresponds to FIG. 5E. The magnetization components (m_(X), m_(Y)) are able to switch between (−1,0) to (1,0) as shown by the present invention.

Advantages

The high speed, low power magnetic device of the present invention uses energy only for read and write operations or logic operations. When not energized, the information is stored without significant loss. Thus, the magnetic device of the present invention, when implemented as a memory cell, can be used as a non-volatile memory.

The non-volatile memory provided by the magnetic device of the present invention is suitable for many applications, such as in computers and portable electronic devices. In particular, the high speed, low power magnetic device of the present invention provides several advantages. The performance of the high speed, low power magnetic device of the present invention compares favorably with flash memory and other types of non-volatile random access memory (RAM), such as conventional magnetic RAM (MRAM) and ferroelectric RAM (FRAM).

The current-induced torques act only on the magnetic device that is energized, i.e., to which a current is applied. Therefore, when multiple magnetic devices are arranged in an array, such as in magnetic memory, the current-induced spin transfer does not produce parasitic interactions (“cross-talk”) between the neighboring elements in the array, unlike in conventional magnetic memories in which magnetic switching is accomplished by using magnetic fields produced by small current-carrying wires near the magnetic elements.

The method of magnetic switching by current induced torque provided by the present invention is faster than current conventional methods that use magnetic fields to switch the magnetization direction of layers. Read-out and write operations of the present invention can be completed in sub-nanosecond time scales. Conventional magnetic hard drives are very slow compared to the magnetic memory of the present invention since the conventional hard drives have data access times of the order of milliseconds.

The method of magnetic switching by current induced torque provided by the present invention requires low power. This is especially advantageous for use in portable electronic devices.

The method of magnetic switching by current induced torque provided by the present invention is ideal for sub-micron scale devices since the lateral dimension of the magnetic device of the present invention may be less than approximately 200 nm. Therefore, the present invention is scaled to allow the fabrication of ultra-high density memory cells so that a vast amount of information can be stored in the magnetic memory provided by the present invention.

The basic architecture of the high speed, low power magnetic device of the present invention is straightforward, and read-out and write operations are reliable and are less sensitive to changes in temperature. Unlike conventional magnetic memory devices, the present invention does not rely on stochastic (random) processes or fluctuating fields to initiate switching events.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, multiple bits of information can be stored on each device so that even more information can be stored in the magnetic memory.

The method of magnetic switching by current induced torque provided by the present invention can be used for logic operations, as well as for magnetic memory devices. Since there is a threshold, which is dependent on the shape, amplitude, and period of the current pulse, for the current pulse to produce a change in magnetization, current input can be combined to produce a logic function, such as an AND gate. For example, two current pulses can be combined to produce a current pulse that traverses the device which is the sum of the two current pulses. The pulse characteristics (shape, amplitude, and period) can be chosen such that each pulse individually does not switch the device, yet the combined pulse does switch the device. Thus, this is an AND operation. A NOT operation requires simply switching the state of the device. A NOT and an AND operation can be combined to produce a NAND function, which is a universal digital logic gate (i.e., all digital logic functions can be constructed from NAND gates.)

There are several possible geometries and layer configurations that are provided by the present invention. For example, an embodiment of the magnetic device of the present invention may be configured so that no net current passes through the free magnetic layer FM2 during write operations. This is illustrated in FIG. 10 which shows an embodiment of the present invention including current source A, current source B, and layer I2, which is a thin insulating layer made of Al₂O₃, for example. In this device, layer I2 is 0.5 to 3 nm thick and is thin enough so that electrons can traverse the layer by quantum mechanical tunneling.

In the device shown in FIG. 10, current pulses are applied with current source A to change the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer FM2. Using current source A, current flows from FM1 to the non-magnetic layer N1 and electron spin angular momentum is transferred to the free magnetic layer FM2 by reflection of electrons at the interface between the non-magnetic layer N1 and the free magnetic layer FM2. The device readout is performed using current source B. The voltage is measured when a small current from B passes between the free magnetic layer FM2 and the readout layer FM3. This voltage will depend on the relative magnetization directions of the layers FM2 and FM3 so that the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer FM2 can be determined to read-out the device. This device has the advantage that the readout signal is large since the tunnel junction resistance can be large (1 Ohm to 100 kOhm). Readout signals can be in the range from 10 mV to 1 V.

Method of Making Thin Films of High Magnetic Anisotropy Material Magnetized at Substantially Non-Zero Angles Relative to the Film Normal

A method of making thin films of high magnetic anisotropy material with magnetizations oriented at substantially non-zero angles relative to the film normal is illustrated in FIG. 16. In FIG. 16, a deposition source and a substrate are provided in a vacuum chamber. The deposition source emits high magnetic anisotropy materials that travel to the substrate at a substantially non-zero angle θ relative to the normal of the plane of the substrate. The deposition source may be an evaporation source, a sputtering source, or any other source suitable for depositing high magnetic anisotropy materials on the substrate. Applicants' experimentation has revealed that the magnetization direction of the resulting thin films can be controlled by varying the angle θ between the direction of deposition and the normal to the plane of the substrate.

The surface of the substrate is provided with a seed layer. The seed layer may include transition metals, such as Ta, Pt, Ti, Cu or Ru, either alone or in combination. One purpose of the seed layer is to give a preferred crystalline orientation for the films that are deposited on the substrate. Thus, the resulting films may be polycrystalline, and may have a preferred crystalline orientation. The substrate need not be crystallographically matched to the deposited films. Thus, a large variety of materials may be used for the substrate, such as Si, glass, GaAs, SiN, MgO, sapphire or diamond.

In some embodiments, the deposition source provides multilayers of high magnetic anisotropy materials to the seed layer of the substrate. In an embodiment, the individual material layers that make up the multilayers may each have thicknesses in the range of 0.1 to 1.5 nm, and the total multilayer thickness may be in the range of 2 to 15 nm, although other thicknesses may also be used. Many classes of high magnetic anisotropy materials may be used, such as multilayers of Ni/Co, Pt/Co/Ni, or Pd/Co/Ni. Another material that may be used is the L1₀ phase of FePt, which has one of the highest magnetic anisotropies among all currently-known materials. Magnetic layers of FePt may be constructed with diameters as small as 3 nm while remaining thermally stable at room temperature, making such layers ideally suited for use in very high density data storage applications. Other materials that may be used include, but are not limited to, multilayers of Fe and Pd, Co and Pt, or Co and Pd.

In one illustrative embodiment, the structure of the thin films is: substrate/Ta (3 nm)/Pt (3 nm)/[Co (0.1 nm)/Ni (0.6 nm)]×5/Pt (3 nm). In this embodiment, the seed layer is the 3 nm layer of Ta. The magnetic layer with high magnetic anisotropy is the Co/Ni layer, which is repeated 5 times. The Co/Ni layers are surrounded by two 3 nm layers of Pt. As discussed above, the magnetization direction of such an embodiment can be selected by varying the angle between the direction of deposition and the normal to the plane of the substrate.

Magnetic Devices Including Layers with Magnetizations Oriented at Substantially Non-Zero Angles Relative to the Layer Normal

In some embodiments of the present invention, a magnetic layer with a magnetization oriented at a substantially non-zero angle relative to the layer normal is incorporated into a magnetic device configured for spin transfer switching. The magnetic layer with a magnetization oriented at a substantially non-zero angle relative to the layer normal may be constructed by deposition of thin films of high magnetic anisotropy materials at an angle to a substrate, as discussed above. However, this magnetic layer may also be constructed by other means.

In some embodiments, the magnetic device includes both free and pinned magnetic layers, one of which has a magnetization oriented at a substantially non-zero angle relative to the layer normal. The free layer may have a thickness in the range of 2 to 5 nm, and the pinned layer may have a thickness in the range of 8 to 15 nm, although other thicknesses may also be used. The free and pinned layers may be separated by an insulating layer that is sufficiently thin to allow electrons to traverse the layer by quantum mechanical tunneling, or by a nonmagnetic conductor. In the former case, the device is a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device, and the device resistance is determined by the tunnel magnetoresistance effect (TMR). In the latter case, the device is a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) device. Application of a current pulse of sufficient amplitude and duration causes the magnetization of the free layer to switch between stable states, thereby changing the resistance of the magnetic device. The largest change in resistance occurs when the magnetization of the free layer is switched between parallel and antiparallel arrangements. However, even if the magnetization of the free layer does not switch between parallel and antiparallel arrangements, the change in resistance can still be very large provided that there is a large change in the projection of the magnetization of the free layer on the magnetization of the pinned layer. Therefore, magnetic devices in which the magnetization of the free layer switches between states that are not parallel and antiparallel can still have large readout signals. Consequently, such devices are well-suited for use as magnetic memory devices.

FIGS. 15A-15D illustrate embodiments of magnetic devices in which either the pinned or free layer has a magnetization oriented at a substantially non-zero angle relative to the layer normal. In all of FIGS. 15A-15D, the nonmagnetic layer I1 between the pinned layer FM1 and the free layer FM2 may be either an insulator or a nonmagnetic conductor. FIG. 15A illustrates an embodiment of a magnetic device in which the magnetization {right arrow over (m)}₁ of the pinned magnetic layer FM1 is oriented at a substantially non-zero angle relative to the normal of the pinned layer, while the magnetization {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 is, in a stable state, parallel to the normal of the free layer. FIG. 15B illustrates an embodiment of a magnetic device in which the magnetization {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 is, in a stable state, oriented at a substantially non-zero angle relative to the normal of the free layer, while the magnetization {right arrow over (m)}₁ of the pinned layer is parallel to the normal of the pinned layer. FIG. 15C illustrates an embodiment of a magnetic device in which the magnetization {right arrow over (m)}₁ of the pinned magnetic layer FM1 is oriented at a substantially non-zero angle relative to the normal of the pinned layer, while the magnetization {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer is, in a stable state, in the plane of the free layer. FIG. 15D illustrates an embodiment of a magnetic device in which the magnetization {right arrow over (m)}₂ of the free magnetic layer FM2 is, in a stable state, oriented at a substantially non-zero angle relative to the normal of the free layer, while the magnetization {right arrow over (m)}₁ of the pinned layer is in the plane of the pinned layer.

Structure of an Annular Magnetic Device

A pillar-shaped magnetic device 1100 having a closed periodic structure is illustrated in FIG. 11. Magnetic device 1100 includes a free magnetic layer 1110, a non-magnetic layer 1120, and a reference magnetic layer 1130. The reference layer 1130 preferably has a fixed magnetic helicity 1135, a magnetic vector with a fixed direction at a predetermined angle, for example, perpendicular to the plane of the layer, or both a fixed magnetic helicity 1135 and a magnetic vector having a fixed direction at a predetermined angle. The free magnetic layer 1110 preferably has a free magnetization helicity 1115. The reference layer 1130 preferably acts as a source of spin angular momentum. The free layer 1110 and the reference layer 1130 are preferably separated by non-magnetic layer 1120.

The reference layer 1130 is preferably magnetically harder than the free layer 1110 and preferably has a well-defined magnetic state. This property can be achieved, for example, by using a layer that is thicker than the free layer or a material having a larger magnetic anisotropy than the material of the free layer 1110, such as Cobalt, the L10 phase of FePt or FePd, or layered structures of Cobalt and Nickel. Alternatively, the desired hardness can be achieved through exchange coupling to a thin anti-ferromagnetic layer, such as IrMn or FeMn.

The non-magnetic layer 1120 preferably conserves spin-momentum of the reference magnetic layer 1130 during spin transport across the non-magnetic layer 1120. Thus, the spin diffusion length of the material used in the non-magnetic layer 1120 is preferably longer than the thickness of the non-magnetic layer 1120. Examples of materials that satisfy the desired properties include any of the noble metals (e.g., Cu, Ag, Au). The non-magnetic layer may also be an insulator such as Al₂O₃ or MgO. For a sufficiently thin insulating layer the spin transport will occur by electron tunneling so as to form a magnetic tunnel junction.

The free magnetic layer 1110 preferably includes a soft magnetic material having a large exchange length, such as permalloy, cobalt, nickel, iron, boron and alloys of those materials. Additionally, alloys including non-magnetic elements, such as copper, may advantageously reduce the magnetic moment of the layers. Alternatively the free magnetic layer can include magnetic oxides such as CrO₂ or Fe₃O₄.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, each layer of the magnetic device 1100 is preferably ring-shaped (i.e. annular). An annular shape can minimize the number of edges or sharp corners that may act as magnetic nucleation sites which reduces stability by increasing the rate of reversal of magnetic helicity. A symmetrical ring structure is one of the preferred shapes which can be used to avoid unwanted reversal of helicity, however the present invention may employ many various forms of closed period structures which may provide similar advantages. The lower the rotational symmetry of the shape of the device, the more likely it is that certain regions will be favored for magnetic nucleation and reversal of magnetic helicity. Geometries that include sharp corners provide strong nucleation sites that encourage helicity reversal and are preferably avoided.

Typically devices that are known in the art result in a tradeoff between the stability of the stored information represented by the free magnetic layer helicity 1115 and the speed and power requirements of changing the information. Typically, as the stability of the programmed helicity increases, so does the power required to change the helicity.

Ring geometries may provide very stable magnetization orientations, with magnetization stability for periods greater than 10 years being achievable. Additionally, the magnetization reversal mechanism of ring geometries may be weakly dependent on ring diameter beyond a critically small size (e.g., typically tens of nanometers). Thus, the size of the device may not be a critical a factor when compared with most presently used geometries. Thus, ring geometries may enable a greater range of use and decreased production costs.

Several factors play a role in the stability of the magnetization of a ring. One factor may be the size of the ring. For a given magnetic field, there exists a critical ring radius for which a ring having a radius equal to or greater than the critical size, the stability of the magnetization of the ring is relatively independent of the ring size. The stability of the magnetization may decrease rapidly as the size of the ring decreases below the critical size. Additionally, the magnetization may be susceptible to thermal fluctuations and the application of a destabilizing magnetic field.

In the limit of low noise, the rate Γ of thermally-induced transitions between two stable helical magnetic states in an annular magnetic device is given by the Arrhenius formula:

Γ˜Γ₀exp(−U/k _(B) T)  (1)

where U is the energy barrier to transition, k_(B) is Boltzmann's constant, T is the temperature, and Γ₀ is a rate prefactor on the order of inverse ferromagnetic resonance frequency (˜10⁻⁹ s), as calculated in K. Martens, D. L. Stein and A. D. Kent, “Magnetic reversal in nanoscopic ferromagnetic rings,” Physical Review B, vol. 73, no. 5, p. 054413 (2006) (hereinafter “Martens”). In order to minimize undesired thermally-induced reversal, such that 1/Γ>>10 years, an energy barrier of U>60k_(B)T is desirable.

In Martens, the energy barrier U was calculated as a function of material parameters, ring dimensions and the applied circumferential magnetic field. Key parameters are the normalized magnetic field h and the ring size l:

$\begin{matrix} {h = {\frac{H_{e}}{H_{c}} = \frac{H_{e}}{\frac{M_{0}}{\pi}\left( \frac{t}{\Delta \; R} \right){{\ln \left( \frac{t}{R} \right)}}}}} & (2) \\ {l = {\frac{R}{\lambda}\sqrt{2{\pi \left( \frac{t}{\Delta \; R} \right)}{{\ln \left( \frac{t}{R} \right)}}}}} & (3) \end{matrix}$

Here, M0 is the saturation magnetization, t is the ring thickness, ΔR is the ring width, R is the average radius, λ is the exchange length, He is the external magnetic field, and Hc is the field at which the metastable state becomes unstable. The exchange length λ is given by λ=√{square root over (2 A/(μ₀M₀ ²))}, where A is the exchange constant. 1 represents the ratio of the ring size to the width of a Bloch wall. The critical radius, i.e. the radius below which the stability of the magnetization may rapidly decrease, is the radius for which l≈2π. Setting l≈2π in Equation 3, the critical radius is given by the solutions to:

$\begin{matrix} {{2\pi} \approx {\frac{R}{\lambda}\sqrt{2{\pi \left( \frac{t}{\Delta \; R} \right)}{{\ln \left( \frac{t}{R} \right)}}}}} & (4) \end{matrix}$

The critical radius is approximately the optimal ring radius for spin-torque transfer operation because it achieves an approximately optimal balance between a small ring size and a high magnetization stability.

For l≦2π√{square root over (1−h²)}, the theory predicts a constant saddle, as illustrated in FIG. 17A, which depicts a constant saddle configuration for h=0.2. By contrast, for l>2π√{square root over (1−h²)}, the theory predicts an instanton saddle, as shown in FIG. 17B, which depicts an instanton saddle configuration for l=12, and FIG. 17C, which depicts an instanton saddle configuration for l=60. Both of these saddle configurations are described by a function φ_(h,l)(θ), as set forth in detail in Martens.

The scale of the energy barrier U is given by:

$\begin{matrix} {E_{0} = {\frac{\mu_{0}M_{0}^{2}}{\pi}\frac{\Delta \; R}{R}{lt}\; \lambda^{2}}} & (5) \end{matrix}$

For the constant saddle arrangement, the theory provides that the energy barrier U is given by:

U=E ₀(1−h)² l/2=μ₀ M ₀ ² t ² R|ln(t/R)|(1−h)²  (6)

This expression is independent of the exchange length λ because the transition state has a magnetization at a constant angle to the ring circumference, as depicted in FIG. 17A.

For instant on saddle arrangements, the result is generally more complicated (see Eq. 13 of Martens). However, in the limit l>>2π, the energy barrier for instanton arrangements is:

U=4E ₀(√{square root over (1−h)}−hsec⁻¹ √{square root over (h)})  (7)

This can easily reach values greater than 60k_(B)T at room temperature for rings fashioned from, among other materials, permalloy or CoFeB. By way of example, a permalloy ring (A=1.3×10⁻¹¹ J/m, M₀=8×10⁵ A/m), with R=50 nm, ΔR=20 nm and t=2 nm is in the large-l, instanton limit (l=12.6), and has an energy barrier of U=80k_(B)T at room temperature with h=0. Therefore, such a ring would be stable against thermal fluctuations for at least 10 years, as discussed above. Rings with even larger ring sizes l have even greater energy barriers to reversal and are therefore easily capable of stable, long-term data retention.

FIG. 18 shows the dependence of the energy barrier U on ring radius for various ring thicknesses, in a situation with zero applied magnetic field (i.e., h=0). In the plot, the dashed curve represents a ring with thickness t=2 nm, the solid curve represents a ring with thickness t=3 nm, and the dotted curve represents a ring with thickness t=4 nm. The plot assumes a ring width of ΔR=0.4R and a temperature of 300 K; the energy barrier U is plotted in units of k_(B)T. FIG. 18 shows that the energy barrier to reversal, and therefore the magnetization stability, increases with both ring thickness and ring radius.

Utilizing these properties, a ring-shaped magnetic device can be designed for which the magnetization of the device is generally stable under static operating conditions, but can easily be changed or reversed by applying a current pulse to the device. Specifically, for a ring device that is substantially near the critical size with no applied current, the magnetic helicity can be easily reversed by applying an electrical current. The electrical current has the effect of providing a destabilizing field and effectively changing the value of the critical radius of the ring. Thus, a magnetic ring designed near the critical size is stable and does not experience unwanted reversal under normal operating conditions, but can be reversed by the application of a relatively small current.

Neglecting the Oersted field (i.e. setting h=0), the current I_(T) that is required to switch the magnetization direction can be estimated as:

$\begin{matrix} {I_{T} = {\frac{e\; \alpha \; E_{0}l}{\hslash \; P}\left( {d + 1} \right)}} & (8) \end{matrix}$

where e is the fundamental charge, a is the Gilbert damping constant, h is the reduced Planck's constant, and P is the spin polarization of the applied current. Furthermore, d is the ratio of the out-of-plane anisotropy to the in-plane anisotropy of the ring, given by:

$\begin{matrix} {d = \frac{2\pi^{2}R^{2}}{l^{2}\lambda^{2}}} & (9) \end{matrix}$

which is typically much larger than 1. For example, a permalloy ring with R=50 nm, ΔR=20 nm and t=2 nm has d=10.

By way of example, a permalloy ring with the above characteristics (R=50 nm, ΔR=20 nm and t=2 nm) and also with α=0.01 and P=0.4 has a switching current threshold of I_(T)=440 μm and a current density threshold of J_(T)=6×10⁶ A/cm². This current produces a circular Oersted field of H_(e)=1350 A/m, corresponding to h=0.02. Therefore, the Oersted field is, in fact, negligible in this example, and the spin-torque interaction is much more effective than the Oersted field at switching the magnetization direction.

The performance of spin-transfer devices can be evaluated by considering a figure of merit ε defined as the ratio of the threshold current to the energy barrier for reversal of the magnetization direction:

ε=I _(T) /U  (10)

Smaller values of the figure of merit ε indicate better device performance because a small value of ε suggests a relatively high value of U, and thus relatively high stability, and/or a relatively low value of I_(T), and thus relatively low power consumption. Reducing the damping and/or increasing the spin polarization leads to lower current thresholds and more energy efficient devices.

FIG. 19 plots the figure of merit ε as a function of the ring size l. The figure of merit ε has a constant value ε₀ throughout the constant saddle regime, l<2π, given by (assuming h=0) ε₀=2ea(d+1)/P. As the ring size l increases, the instanton becomes the preferred saddle configuration, and the figure of merit ε increases. The dot in FIG. 19 indicates the transition between the constant saddle and instanton saddle regimes. In the limit l>>2π (i.e. as the ring size becomes arbitrarily large), ε/ε₀→l/8.

In some embodiments of the present invention, annular magnetic devices may be used to construct a memory cell architecture. FIG. 20 illustrates a memory cell architecture comprising bit cells that include annular magnetic devices. In FIG. 20, each bit cell includes at least one magnetic ring and at least one transistor for current control and readout. A voltage may be applied on the word line (WL) to address and activate a particular element in the memory array. In some embodiments, the transistors may be CMOS transistors. The current density per unit gate width for CMOS transistors is typically 1 mA/μm. Therefore, smaller switching currents for the annular magnetic devices permit smaller minimum feature sizes f, smaller transistors and, consequently, larger device integration density. The memory density of a memory architecture including annular devices is therefore a function of the ring size and the switching current. By way of example, a permalloy annular device with R=50 nm, ΔR=20 nm, t=2 nm, α=0.01 and P=0.4 would require transistors with a gate length of 0.5 μm. Assuming a lateral bit size of four times the minimum feature size, 4f, this exemplary device gives a bit areal density greater than 10⁷ devices/cm².

In another aspect of this invention, a magnetic ring device that has a radius greater than or equal to the critical radius can provide a very stable magnetization. Thus, if it is not a goal of the device to modify or reverse the magnetization of the device, a magnetic ring having a radius that is greater than the critical radius, can be easily employed in read only memory in a wide range of sizes greater than the critical size.

FIG. 12 illustrates a magnetic ring device 1200 employed as a magnetic memory element. Preferably, the free magnetic layer 1210 has a magnetic helicity 1215 with at least two stable orientations—a clockwise orientation and a counter-clockwise orientation. The reference layer 1230 preferably has a magnetic vector having a fixed direction at predetermined angle 1236, a fixed magnetic helicity 1235, or both a fixed magnetic vector having a direction at a predetermined angle 1236 and a fixed magnetic helicity 1235. Preferably, the predetermined angle of the fixed magnetic vector 1236 is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the reference layer 1230. The reference magnetic layer 1230 and the free magnetic layer 1210 are preferably separated by a non-magnetic layer 1220.

The direction of the free magnetic layer helicity can be changed or reversed by applying an electrical pulse across the layers of magnetic device 1200 from current source 1270. The pulse from control current source 1270 may initiate the reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1215. The spin-momentum of the reference magnetic layer 1230 may be transferred to the free magnetic layer 1210 so as to change the magnetization and induce reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1215. An electrical pulse in one direction across the device 1200 may set the free magnetic layer helicity 1215 in a clockwise direction, and an electrical pulse in the opposite direction may set the free magnetic layer helicity 1215 in a counter-clockwise direction.

The electrical pulse from control current source 1270 may initiate the reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1215. Reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1215 may stop when the second stable state is reached. However, a second current pulse from control current source 1270 can be used to stop the reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1215 more quickly. A reference layer 1230 having an easy axis 1236 (i.e., the energetically favorable direction of the spontaneous magnetization in a ferromagnetic material) that is substantially perpendicular to the free magnetic layer 1210 can lead to faster spin-transfer induced reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1215.

A second reference layer 1263 with fixed magnetic layer helicity 1268 may be used to read-out the helicity state of the free magnetic layer. The fixed magnetic helicity can be achieved, for example, by using a layer that is thicker than the free layer or a material having a larger magnetic anisotropy than the material of the free layer 1210, such as Cobalt, the L10 phase of FePt or FePd, or layered structures of Cobalt and Nickel. The second reference 1263 layer is preferably separated from the free magnetic layer 1210 by a non-magnetic layer 1266, which may be a thin non-magnetic metal or insulating layer. In the case of an insulating layer, the second reference layer 1263 and the free magnetic layer 1210 form a magnetic tunnel junction. If the free magnetic layer helicity 1215 and the second reference magnetic layer helicity 1268 are in the same direction (i.e., the magnetic helicities are both clockwise or both counter-clockwise), the resistance across the device 1200 may be generally smaller than if the free magnetic layer helicity 1215 and the reference magnetic layer helicity 1235 are in opposite directions, thereby differentiating between the two stable orientations of the free magnetic layer 1210.

FIG. 13 illustrates a further embodiment of a magnetic ring device 1300 employed as a magnetic memory element in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, the free magnetic layer 1310 has at least two stable orientations of the free magnetic layer helicity 1315—a clockwise orientation and a counter-clockwise orientation. The reference layer 1330 preferably has a fixed magnetic vector 1336 having a direction at a predetermined angle, a fixed magnetic helicity 1335, or both a fixed magnetic vector 1336 having a direction at a predetermined angle 1336 and a fixed magnetic helicity 1335. Preferably, the predetermined angle of the fixed magnetic vector 1336 is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the reference layer 1330. The reference magnetic layer 1330 and the free magnetic layer 1310 are preferably separated by a non-magnetic layer 1320.

The direction of the free magnetic layer helicity can be changed or reversed by applying an electrical pulse across the layers of magnetic device 1300 from control current source 1370 through write contact 1350 and contact 1340. The pulse from control current source 1370 may initiate the reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1315. The spin-momentum of the reference magnetic layer 1330 may be transferred to the free magnetic layer 1310 so as to change the magnetization and induce reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1315. An electrical pulse in one direction across the device 1300 may set the free magnetic layer helicity 1315 in a clockwise direction, and an electrical pulse in the opposite direction may set the free magnetic layer helicity 1315 in a counter-clockwise direction.

The electrical pulse from control current source 1370 may initiate the reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1315. Reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1315 may stop when the second stable state is reached. However, a second current pulse from control current source 1370 can be used to stop the reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1315 more quickly.

A reference layer 1330 having an easy axis (i.e., the energetically favorable direction of the spontaneous magnetization in a ferromagnetic material) that is substantially perpendicular to the free magnetic layer 1310 can lead to faster spin-transfer induced reversal of the free magnetic layer helicity 1315.

Current injection need not be symmetric. Local injection of the current may be used to initiate the change in the free magnetic layer helicity 1315. Transfer of spin angular momentum may serve to nucleate magnetization reversal with current spin-polarized by the reference layer 1330. Layer 1320 is a spin preserving non-magnetic layer such as Cu, Ag, Au or a thin insulating layer such as Al₂O₃ or MgO. Small asymmetry in the ring may facilitate nucleation and reversal through spin-momentum transfer. Pronounced asymmetry could reduce the magnetization stability, which is undesirable.

The state of the free magnetic layer helicity can be determined by measuring the voltage or resistance across the device 1300. If the free magnetic layer helicity 1315 and the reference magnetic layer helicity 1335 are in the same direction (i.e., the magnetic helicities are both clockwise or both counter-clockwise), the resistance across the device 1300 may be generally smaller than if the free magnetic layer helicity 1315 and the reference magnetic layer helicity 1335 are in opposite directions.

Currently available magnetic memory devices typically require relatively high currents and low impedance to write information (i.e., modify the magnetic helicity of the device), whereas readout is done with smaller currents but requires a large readout signal. The ring geometry of the magnetic device 1300 addresses these contradicting requirements by allowing the performance of the reading and writing operations in different locations on the device. A write operation can be performed by control current source 1370, which provides a large current, and write contact 1350, which can be in direct contact with either the free magnetic layer 1310 or the reference magnetic layer 1330 thus having low impedance. The write operation circuit is completed through contact 1340 which can be placed in direct contact with either the free magnetic layer 1310 or the reference magnetic layer 1330 to complete the circuit across device 1300.

The read operation can be performed using a separate readout circuit. Read contact 1360 can include a magnetic contact portion 1363 with a fixed magnetization direction or helicity 1365 and an insulator portion 1366 that separates the magnetic contact 1363 from the device 1300, thereby forming a magnetic tunnel junction with the device 1300. A separate readout current source 1380 can provide a smaller current across the device 1300 which is measured by voltage or resistance readout 1390.

Preferably, the device has a thickness of approximately 1 to 5 nanometers, a mean outer radius of approximately 20 to 250 nm and a ring width of approximately 8 to 100 nm.

Typical multi-element magnetic devices have strong magnetostatic interaction between the different elements. This interaction can be difficult to quantify or control, and thus results in problems increasing density and performance of the device. The present invention may minimize these interactions. Additionally, the device avoids the problems of magnetic field spreading which results in superior speed writing and readout along with reduction of error due to stray or poorly controlled fields.

While there has been described what are at present considered to be embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made thereto, and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Magnetic tunnel junctions offer the possibility of very large magnetoresistance that can be used to read the state of a magnetic memory cell. A magnetic tunnel junction consists of two magnetic layers separated by a thin insulating layer. The insulator is sufficiently thin that electrons may traverse this layer by quantum mechanical tunneling. The thickness of the insulator is typically between 0.3 and 3 nm.

A large magnetoresistance will provide a large readout signal. It has been shown experimentally that very large magnetoresistance can be achieved using magnesium oxide (MgO) insulating barriers. The magnetoresistance refers to the percentage change in resistance between states in which the layers are magnetized antiparallel and parallel. A magnetoresistance of greater that 400% has been achieved recently with MgO insulating layers. With an aluminum oxide insulating layer, a magnetoresistance of about 30% has been achieved. Either of these materials as well as other insulators may prove useful as the non-magnetic layers, N1 or N2.

Note that current must pass through the insulating layer during the switching process. An exception to this is the device represented in FIG. 10, in which there is a separate electrical contact to N1. This means the insulator must not be damaged in the presence of this current or, equivalently, the voltage that appears across the junction in the presence of the current. Thin insulating barriers typically support 1 V/nm electric fields before damage, known as voltage breakdown. The current required to switch the junction must not produce electric fields in the junction that exceed the insulator breakdown electric field.

The pinned magnetic layer of the device may include a material with a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. A perpendicular magnetic anisotropy gives a preference for the magnetization to orient perpendicular to the plane of the layer. Thin magnetic layers are typically magnetized in the film plane. This orientation is usually a lower energy configuration; it reduces the layer's magnetostatic energy. To orient the magnetization perpendicular to the plane the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy must be sufficiently large compared to the magnetostatic energy of the layer.

This can be achieved with a number of different materials. For example, alloys of Fe and Pt, Fe and Pd, Co and Pt, Co and Pd, Co and Au, Co and Ni. This can also be achieved by creating interfaces between dissimilar magnetic materials or magnetic materials and non-magnetic materials. An example of the former, is layered structures of Co and Ni and example of the latter is layered structure of Co and Au or Co and Pt. An advantage of these layered materials is that they need not be crystalline; polycrystalline layers suffice.

This layer serves to spin polarize the current. The materials should have good spin polarization efficiency. A disadvantage of using Pd or Pt is that these elements typically induce strong spin-scattering which reduces the layer spin-polarization. Large layer spin-polarization is needed for efficient device operation.

The free layer's magnetization direction switches in response to a current pulse. It is desirable to reduce the amplitude of this current pulse to lower the power required for device operation. Current requirements are linked to the magnetization density, damping and magnetic anisotropy of the layers. The lower the magnetization density and magnetic anisotropy the lower the required current amplitude for switching. The magnetization density of a magnetic is lowered if the magnetic material is alloyed with a non-magnetic material. (Of course, this only holds in a range of alloy concentrations. Eventually the material will become non-magnetic.)

It should be noted that the switching current amplitude and switching time are interdependent. For example, lower magnetization density increases the time to reverse the magnetization.

It may be desirable to increase the magnetization damping of the free magnetic layer to increase the device reliability. It is the expectation that increasing the damping would increase the parameter range for switching. That is, the device would switches reproducibly between states for a greater range of current pulse amplitudes, times and current pulse shapes.

The following references are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety: [1] S. Yuasa et al, Appled Physics Letters 89, 042505 (2006); [2] J-M. L. Beaujour, W. Chen, K. Krycka, C-C. Kao, J. Z. Sun and A. D. Kent, “Ferromagnetic resonance study of sputtered Co|Ni multilayers,” The European Physical Journal B, 59, 475 (2007); [3] J-M. L. Beaujour, A. D. Kent and J. Z. Sun, “Ferromagnetic resonance study of polycrystalline Fe_(—{)1−x}V_x alloy thin films” Journal of Applied Physics 103, 07B519 (2008); [4] K. Martens, D. L. Stein and A. D. Kent, “Magnetic reversal in nanoscopic ferromagnetic rings,” Physical Review B, vol. 73, no. 5, p. 054413 (2006); and [5] G. D. Chaves-O'Flynn, A. D. Kent, and D. L. Stein, Physical Review B 79, 184421 (2009). 

We claim:
 1. A magnetic device comprising: a pinned magnetic layer with a first magnetization vector with a first magnetization direction that is fixed; a free magnetic layer with a second magnetization vector with a second magnetization direction that is fixed and has four stable magnetic states; a first non-magnetic layer spatially separating the free magnetic layer and the pinned magnetic layer; a read-out magnetic layer with a third magnetization vector with a third magnetization direction that is fixed; and a second non-magnetic layer that spatially separates the free magnetic layer and the read-out magnetic layer.
 2. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the second magnetization direction represents two bits of information.
 3. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the read-out magnetic layer is aligned such that each of the four stable magnetic states of the free magnetic layer has a different resistance.
 4. The magnetic device of claim 3, wherein in-plane components of the read-out magnetic layer are not parallel to or offset by 45 degrees from any of the four stable magnetic states.
 5. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the second non-magnetic layer is configured to minimize mutual magnetic interaction between the free magnetic layer and the read-out magnetic layer.
 6. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the first magnetization direction is perpendicular to a plane of the free magnetic layer, and wherein the second changeable direction is perpendicular to an axis extending longitudinally through the magnetic device.
 7. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the four stable magnetic states of the second magnetization vector are separated by 90 degrees.
 8. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic device is pillar-shaped, and wherein the pinned magnetic layer, the first non-magnetic layer, the free magnetic layer, the second magnetic layer, and the read-out magnetic layer are less than approximately 200 nm laterally and approximately 1 nm to 50 nm thick.
 9. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the pinned magnetic layer, the free magnetic layer, and the read-out magnetic layer are comprised of Co, Ni, Fe, an alloy of Co and Ni, an alloy of Co and Fe, an alloy of Ni and Fe, an alloy of Co, Ni, Fe, or permalloy Nil−xFex.
 10. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the pinned magnetic layer, the free magnetic layer, and the read-out magnetic layer are comprised of a non-magnetic metal and an alloy, wherein the alloy comprises an alloy of Co and Ni, an alloy of Co and Fe, an alloy of Ni and Fe, or an alloy of Co, Ni and Fe, such that the non-magnetic metal and the alloy are ferromagnetically ordered at room temperature.
 11. The magnetic device of claim 10, wherein the non-magnetic metal comprises Cu, Pd or Pt.
 12. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the pinned magnetic layer, the free magnetic layer, and the read-out magnetic layer are comprised of NiMnSb and a conducting magnetic oxide.
 13. The magnetic device of claim 12, wherein the conducting magnetic oxide comprises CrO2 or Fe3O4.
 14. The magnetic device of claim 1, wherein the non-magnetic layers comprise Cu, Cr, Au, Ag or Al.
 15. A method of magnetic switching, the method comprising: applying an electric current comprising a negative current pulse and a positive current pulse to a magnetic device comprising a first magnetic layer with a first magnetization vector and a second magnetic layer with a second magnetization vector having four stable magnetic states over a sub-nanosecond period of time; and stopping application of the electric current when the second magnetization vector changes from one of the four stable magnetic states to another of the four stable magnetic states.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the magnetization vector represents two bits based upon the rotation of the magnetization vector.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising transferring spin-momentum of the pinned magnetic layer to the free magnetic layer while the electric current is applied.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the magnetic device further comprises a read-out magnetic layer having a third magnetization vector.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising reading a state of the second magnetization vector based upon the third magnetization vector of the read-out magnetic layer of the magnetic device.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: measuring a resistance through at least the read-out magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer; and determining the sate of the second magnetization vector based upon the resistance.
 21. The method of claim 15, wherein the current is applied through the pinned magnetic layer, the free magnetic layer, and the read-out magnetic layer. 